Double platform and platform-shifting mechanism



(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 1, O. P. BUSHNELL.

DOUBLE PLATFGRM AND PLATFORM SHIFTING MECHANISM.

No. 311,956. Patented Feb. 10,1885.

Z yEJ-Q (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

O. P. BUSHNELL. DOUBLE PLATFORM AND PLATFORM SHIFTING MECHANISM. No. 311,956. Patented Feb. 10,1885.

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OSCAR P. BUSHNELL, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

DOUBLE PLATFORM AND PLATFORM SHlFTlNG ltdECl-lANlSll/l.

EiFBCIFI-CATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 311,956, dated February 10, 1885.

Application filed November 8, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, Osoiin P. BUSHNELL, a citizen oftheUnited States, residing at \Vorcester, in the county of \Vorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Double Platforms and Platform-Shifting Mechanism for Presses; and I declare the following to be a description of my said invention, sufficiently full, clear, and exact to enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

The object of my present invention is to provide a double movable platform for presses, the shifting mechanism of which is arranged so as to automatically raise theplatform from the bed of the press while it is being moved or shifted, and to automatically lower the plat form upon the bed of the press when it is brought to position beneath thepress-follower, as more fully hereinafter described. This object I attain by mechanism the nature, construction, and operation of which is illustrated in the drawings and herein described, the particular subject-matter claimed being hereinafter definitely specified.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of a double platform and shifting mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail view of one of the elevating devices in position of elevation. Fig. 3 is a detail View of the elevating devices in position of depression. Fig. l is a plan view ofa portion of the platform, press-bed, and shifting-gear. Fig. 5 is an end view of the platform, press-bed, and shifting devices.

In my improved apparatus the platform is mounted on wheels or trucks which run on suitable tracks,and combined with said wheels or trucks is apparatus for changing the relative height ofthe platform-supports by the action of devices automatically actuated by the mechanism thatimparts the shifting movement, and a suitable tripping mechanism is provided for letting down the elevating devices when the shifting movement is completed and the platform has reached the proper working position, this operation being effected at either end of the platform, accordingly as the platform is moved either to the right or left.

In the references, A designates the bed of the press, which press may be of ordinary construction or such as described in my former Letters Patent No. 266,967.

13 indicates the shifting platform, which is made with two pressing tables, b b, to receive the pomace-cheese or material to bepressed.

'0 indicates tracks or tramways, extending outward at either side of the pressbed A for a distance sufficient to accommodate the move ment of the platform. Said tracks are in the present instance formed of timbers,with a top plate, 0, of metal, on which the wheels D, that support. the platform, run. The axle D of the wheels D are retained in slotted hangers E, fixedto and dependent from the platformframe, and are allowed sufficient vertical ac tion in the hangers to permit the requisite elevation of the platform B. Sleeves or hubs are arranged upon the wheel-axles D, carrying arms F, provided with socketed ends or knuckles that engage with lugs,arms, or pro jections'c, formed upon or connected with shafts G, which latter are supported in the hangers 13, parallel with and above the respective axles upon which the wheels D are mounted. The weight of the platform Bis borne on the shafts G, and is thence transferred to the axle D and wheels D through the arms or knuckles e F, so that when the knuckles or arms 0 and F are straightened, as in Fig. 2, the platform will be supported at a higher position than when the knuckles are swung toward one side, as in Fig. 3. Latches or dogs Hare arranged in connection with the arms F, which catch onto lugs f on the parts F when the knuckles are straightened, (see Fig. 2,) and thus retain them until the latch 'is tripped by its end being brought in contact with the trip-pieces H, connected with the bed A of the press, or otherwise stationed at the proper position for depressing the platform. The latclrdogs H are pivoted to the hangers E, and theirprqjecting ends are made with su'fiicient preponderance to cause them to drop into engagement with lugs f when the arms are brought into upright position.

On the front ends of the shafts G are fixed levers or arms I, by means of which the shafts ing the knuckles e F.

can be rocked or partially rotated for work- The upper ends of the arms I are connected, respectively, to a bar, K, by means of crank-pins or studs J, that pass through longitudinally-disposed slots J, formed through the ends of said bar, as illustrated. The bar K extends from one arm, I, to the other along the side of the platform, parallel with the direction of its movement. The length of the slot J is equal to or slightly greater than the movement of the arm-studs J, the swing or action of the arms I being limited between lugs or projections d d, arranged on the side of the platform B, as indicated. The length of the bar K between the slots is such that the movement of the bar will press forward one of the arms, while the other is left free in the slot, and vice versa. The bar K is supported by the arms I, and it is free to move longitudinally independent of the platform B to the limit of the slots J and swing of the arms I.

For the movement of the barK and platform 13, I employ a drive-chain, L, having its ends connected with the ends of the bar K, which chain passes over a sprocket-wheel, M, mounted on a suitable supportingframe, N, fixed upon the end of the press-bed A, out side the rods or press-standards a a. Gonneeted with said sprocket M, and mounted on frame N is a revolving gear, 0, pinion P, and crank R, as illustrated,whereby the shift ing of the platform B can be easily and conveniently effected. to prevent the chain from being thrown from the sprockets by any accidental occurrence. The outer ends of the tracks 0 are inclined downward or beveled off, as indicated at O on Fig. 1, so the end of the platform farthest from the press-bed will be lowered when the trucks or wheels D reach that position.

In the operation of shifting the platform to bring the respective pomace-tables b and 1) into position beneath the press-follower, the attendant turns the crank R, thereby imparting, through the aid of the gears, sprocket, and chain L, a longitudinal movement to the bar K indirection corresponding with that in which the platform B is to be moved. (See index-arrow on Fig. 1.) This movement of the bar K brings a strain or pressure onto the arm I of the outgoing truck devices, and before this pressure is transmitted to the platform the shaft G is rocked over sufficiently to straighten up the knuckle devices 6 and F, which action causes the end of the platform to be lifted from the press-bed A,'so that it will pass forward without contact with said bed. The latch H swings and catches thelug 6 f of the arm F as it moves away from the trip-piece H and retains it in elevated position until it again returns to the starting position. The incoming truck raises the outmost end of the platform as it runs up on the incline G, and when it reaches the bedA, so that the latches H make contact with the trip- A guard, m, is provided dogs H, said latches are thrown off, and the knuckles e F swing outward and permit the incoming end of the platform to drop up- The shifting of the platform in the other direction is performed in similar manner by turning the crank R in opposite direction. It will thus be seen that for'shifting the platform it is simply necessary to turn the crank R in the direction required, and the lifting and dropping of the platform from and to the bed A is automatically effected by the same apparatus by which the platform or table is moved without any further attention of the attendant.

This apparatusis of great utility and convenience in connection with presses for making cider and wine, and for extracting juices or liquids, or for any purposes where it is desired to unload and fill one pomace-table while material upon another is being pressed:

What I claim as of my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is p 1. The combination, with a press for extracting liquids and other similar purposes, of a shifting double platform mounted on traveling trucks, and adapted for longitudinal adjustment across the bed of the press, an operating mechanism for moving said platform, and means for automatically raising said platform free of the press-bed at the start, and for lowering it upon said bed at the completion,

'of its shifting action.

2. The combination, with the platform B and its supporting-trucks and shifting mechanism, of tracks 0, having inclines or depressions at their outer ends, 0, for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, with the press-bed A of the platform B, provided with double pomace-tables b b, and mounted on trucks D for longitudinal-shifting action, of a knucklejoint elevating device, as F c, and means for automatically operating said knuckles to elevate.

naled in said hangers, and provided with knuckle-plates e, the arms I, and connectingbar K, substantially as and for the purposes setforth.

6. The combination, with the bed A and M, the operating-gearsOP, and crank R, sub- 10 platform supporting mechanism provided stantially as and for the purposes set forth. with knuoklearms e and F, of the latch-dogs Witness my hand this 17th day of Decem- H and tripping-1ugs H, for the purposes set her, A. D. 1883.

5 forth. T

7. The combination of theshifting platform, OSCAR BUSH} mounted for longitudinal adjustment on trucks I \Vituesses: D D, the elevating-knuckles e F, the arms I, I CHAS. H. BURLEIGH,

the slotted bar K, the chain L, sprocket-wheel CHARLES S. BACON. 

